THE family of dead preacher Harry Hammond has pleaded with the organisers of an anti-gay march not to link themselves with his name.

Mr Hammond's granddaughter revealed her grandfather was a paranoid schizophrenic and said his extreme views were a direct result of his mental illness.

A Christian Voice march against homosexuality planned for Sunday has been dubbed Harry Hammond Day in tribute to the preacher who died from natural causes.

Mr Hammond died shortly after lodging an appeal against a decision to fine him for a public order offence in The Square.

But his Bournemouth granddaughter, who did not wish to be named, said the planned march had upset his whole family.

She said: "None of us condone what he did but he was not of sound mind and it's very upsetting to think that people who are of sound mind are planning to use his name to promote their own bigotry.

"It just gives Christianity a bad name and the fact that my grandad's name is also being dragged into it makes it even worse."

The march is set to coincide with Bourne Free day, an event for the gay community taking place in the Lower Gardens.

Bournemouth's divisional commander Chief Superintendent Bob Boulton, said: "No matter what their views, I would ask people visiting Bournemouth to express their views to behave and act within the law to ensure that there is a positive atmosphere during the day," he said.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth politiciams are united in their condemnation of the Christian march.

The leaders of the council's Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat and Independent groups all agree that the event contravenes their policy on sexual orientation.